The sky over Capilla del Monte.
Argentina's UFO capital and one of the best skies in the country for looking up. Here the night isn't the end of the day: it's the plan.
What you'll see if you look up
The best spots to see the stars
Ten minutes from the centre the sky changes completely. These are the spots we recommend, from nearest to farthest.
Villa Cielo Nature Reserve
A municipal reserve with trails and a natural observatory with an audio guide to find your way around the sky. The tourism office runs free full-moon walks; book by WhatsApp at +54 9 3548 569415.
Puesto Pavón
Argentina's first Starlight-certified lodging, awarded by the Starlight Foundation in 2024. A mountain homestead built for sleeping under a sky with no lights and watching from bed, literally.
Los Terrones and Ongamira
North of town, among red rock formations and the Ongamira valley, there is almost no light pollution. By day they are two must-see outings; by night, a full sky from horizon to horizon.
See the place →Base of Uritorco
At night the mountain can only be climbed with a licensed guide, but the base and the access road already give you the postcard: the silhouette of Uritorco cut out against the Milky Way.
See the place →- Get away from the centreA 5 or 10 minute drive is enough to leave the town lights behind.
- Give your eyes 20 minutesYour sight adapts to darkness gradually. No screens: every time you check your phone, you start over.
- Dress warmer than you thinkIn the hills the temperature drops a lot at night, even in summer. Jacket, hat and something hot to drink.
- A red flashlightRed light doesn't ruin your night vision. Many phone torches have a red mode, or cover it with cellophane.
- A sky appWith a free app you can identify planets, constellations and satellites by pointing your phone at the sky.
The city that glows beneath the mountain.
Long before the UFO boom, the Uritorco was already a sacred mountain: for the Comechingones, the original people of these hills, it was a place of power and ceremony. In 1934 the occultist Orfelio Ulises — back from years of mystical searching in Tibet — climbed the mountain and came down with the Bastón de Mando: a basalt cylinder attributed to chief Voltán, thousands of years old. Nobody knows where it is today.
In the 1980s came Ángel Cristo Acoglanis, a healer of Greek origin his disciples called Sarumah. He claimed to be in contact with the guardians of Erks, the underground city of light, and held his ceremonies among the rocks of Los Terrones. He was murdered in 1989 and never told where it all came from: his story became legend.
And on January 9, 1986, on the slope of Cerro Pajarillo, facing the Uritorco, an oval mark of scorched grass over a hundred meters long appeared overnight. No explanation ever satisfied everyone. Since that summer, Capilla del Monte has been Argentina's UFO capital — and some look for Erks on every night walk, while others hear it as a mountain tale. We won't tell you what to believe.
Whatever you come for, the mountain delivers.
Erks, imagined: an illustration created over the real silhouette of the Uritorco.
Climbing Uritorco at night
The Complejo Cerro Uritorco, the official administration of the mountain, runs night ascents only with licensed guides. Walking the mountain at night on your own is prohibited by municipal ordinance.
Prices change often: check the current rate when booking. · Cerro Uritorco page
Sunrise Night Hike
You climb in the small hours to greet the sun from the summit, at 1,979 m.
Sunset Night Hike
You climb in the afternoon, watch the sun go down from the top and descend by night, with a headlamp.
Full Moon
The classic: an ascent by moonlight. Next dates: August 27 and September 26, 2026.
One week a year, the town dresses up as another planet
Every first half of February, Capilla del Monte celebrates its most famous identity: a costume parade, talks, music, fairs and the sky-watching night. In 2026 it ran from February 6 to 14, with free admission.
Meteor showers visible from Capilla
Activity dates and peak night according to the International Meteor Organization. The best ones for our hemisphere are the η-Aquariids in May and the Geminids in December.
| Shower | Activity | Peak | From Capilla |
|---|---|---|---|
| η-AquariidsThe best | 19 Apr – 28 May | 6 May | StrongThe best in the southern hemisphere. Look east before dawn. |
| Southern δ-Aquariids | 12 Jul – 23 Aug | 31 Jul | ModerateGood from the south; faint meteors, get away from the lights. |
| Perseids | 17 Jul – 24 Aug | 13 Aug | LowFamous up north; from here it sits low on the horizon, before dawn. |
| TauridsActive today | 10 Sep – 10 Dec | — | LowFew meteors but bright ones: this is the fireball shower. |
| Orionids | 2 Oct – 7 Nov | 21 Oct | ModerateDebris from Halley's comet. Fast, best after midnight. |
| Leonids | 6 Nov – 30 Nov | 17 Nov | ModerateVery fast, with persistent trails. In the early hours. |
| GeminidsThe best | 4 Dec – 20 Dec | 14 Dec | StrongThe strongest shower of the year and well placed from Capilla. All night long. |
The Ursids (December) are not visible from the southern hemisphere. With a full moon near the peak, the number of visible meteors drops sharply.
What everyone asks
Can you see UFOs in Capilla del Monte?
There have been thousands of reports since the 1986 mark, and plenty of quiet nights too. What is certain: the sky is one of the cleanest in the country and you will see satellites, meteors and the Milky Way like in few other places. Whatever you come for, the mountain is awe-inspiring.
Do I need a telescope?
No. With the naked eye you can see the Milky Way, the Magellanic Clouds, the Southern Cross, planets and meteor showers. Binoculars add a lot for the moon and star clusters. The natural observatory at Villa Cielo has an audio guide to help you find your way.
Can you climb Uritorco at night?
Only with a licensed guide, on the night hikes run by the Complejo Cerro Uritorco (Sunrise, Sunset and Full Moon). Climbing at night on your own is prohibited by municipal ordinance.
When is the best time of year for the sky?
Winter nights (June to August) are the clearest and have the centre of the Milky Way high overhead. For meteors, May (η-Aquariids) and December (Geminids). Always pick nights close to the new moon.
How's the sky tonight?
URI knows the moon phase, the forecast and what can be seen today. Ask on WhatsApp.